Wall cleaning apparatus



pril 30, 1935.v c. KENNE ET AL WALL CLEANING AFPARATS Filed sept. 18, 1953 2 sheets-Shes? .emeeeeaeeexamueez April w, w35.

c. KENNE ET Al. 1,999,462

WALL CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wy dgame f @Nitti STAES Fl'lhbii' OFFIQE WALL CLEANENG APPARATUS Casper Kenne and Anthony Kenne, Des Moines, Iowa Application September 18, 1933, Serial No. 689,953

13 Claims. (Cl. 15-219) Our invention relates to an apparatus for use tainer and scoop taken on the same line as Figin cleaning walls and particularly in cleaning ures 6 and 'Z and illustrating the operation of the wall paper with ordinary well known plastic wall hinged front wall of the container. paper cleaner. v y Our improved apparatus includes a container The object of our invention is to provide such for a plastic cleaner of the kind ordinarily used 5 an apparatus which will hold a charge of the in cleaning wall paper. Suitably mounted in asplastic cleaning material, present a clean surface sociation with the container is a movable scoop thereof in a substantially straight transverse and a movable kneader and roller. The parts are line, and which can be manipulated ior kneading so arranged that a portion of the cleaner is pressed and rotating the cleaner for thus presenting fresh outwardly from the container to afford a clean- 10 cleaning surface for each successive operation. ing surface for a cleaning operation, which con- An important purpose is to provide in such an sists in drawing diiiferent surfaces across a secapparatus, novel and efficient means for effecttion of the wall paper. The scoop and the kneading the operation of kneading the cleaner and er and roller may then be actuated for sliding the rolling or rotating it for successively presenting cleaner in the container and then imparting to 15 new cleaning surface for the next cleaning operait a rotary and kneading movement, and then tion. presenting another portion of the cleaner for use In this connection, it is our purpose to provide as a cleaning surface. a number of important features of detailed me- Our improved cleaning apparatus includes a chanical structure, which will be hereafter fully container, which we have indicated generally by 20 set forth. the reference character A. The scoop is indi- Still another purpose is to provide such an cated generally by the character B, Yand the apparatus having means for feeding an addikneading and rolling member by the charactional supply of cleaner as desired. ter C.

g5 With these and other objects in View, our in- Container 25 vention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of our wall The container A comprises a bottom In, spaced paper Cleaning apparatus whereby the objects side walls il and a front wall I 2. A suitable contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more handle is Connected with the Container,

3o fully Set forth, pointed out in Our Claims, and As shown in the drawings, we have illustrated so illustrated in the @-CCOmp'll/lg dfWllgS, in a plate i3 extending from the bottom lll of the Whh container A as perhaps best illustrated in Figures Figure 1 Shows a t0n or plan View of an anpere- 2, 6 and 7. The plate is may be connected with Jl'llJlS 0f the kllld under COllSldellOll e'illbdyllig Gf formed integrally with a handley Such as the our invention, parts being broken away. tubular member i4. 35

Figure 2 ShOWS a CSGai-, Sonfl View @alien We shall now describe certain features of the Orl the line 2-2 0f Figure l, Darts being broken container, the purpose of which will be later away. more fully explained.

Figure 3 shows a detailed, sectional View teiten It will be noted that the front Wall l2 of the 4o on the line 3 3 of Figure i, the reservoir being container has a pivotal connection with the for- 40 omitted. ward edge of the bottom lil. The means where- Figure l shows a detalle-d sectional view taken by this connection may be established may be on the line l-l of Figure i. varied as desired. As shown, the bottom lll is Figure 5 is a detailed, sectional View taken on illustrated as formed with an upturned inclined the line --B of Figure 2. flange ita at its forward edge and is provided 45 Figure 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus, with slots l5 laterally spaced to receive tongues the cleaner'container and some of the operatit projecting from the lower edge of the wall ing parts being shown-in section in the position i2 and bent around the flange lila. Only one where the device is approaching the finish of its tongue and one slot are shown, but it will be unstroke for presenting a portion of the cleaner in a dei-stood that there are enough of them for the 50 cleaning surface ready for f purpose. These tongues limit the rearward Figure 7 is a similar view w zh the parts illusswinging movement of the wall l2 and its fortrated at an earlier stage of the movement than ward swinging movement is limited by a stop that shown in Figure 6; and bar ll secured to the side walls ll by means of Figure 8 is a sectional view through the conanges it at its ends. (See Figures 3, 5 and 6). 55

Scoop The scoop B has an upright rear wall 22. It

has a bottom 23 projecting forwardly a short distance from the rear wall 22 and inclined downwardly slightly, so as to have a shearing motion along the bottom IQ of the container and also extending rearwardly from the wall 22 in the form here shown.

The scoop has spaced side walls 24 secured to the rear wall 22, extending substantially rearwardly therefrom and also extending forwardly therefrom. The forward edge of one side wall 24 is shown in dotted lines at 24d in Figure 7 and it will be noted that it is inclined from its bottom upwardly and forwardly.

The forward edge of the scoop is also inclined outwardly as indicated at 2li-b in Figure 5, so that it will have a shearing motion in its travel against the side walls il of the container.

The portions of the side walls of the scoop, which project forwardly from the wall 22 are provided forwardly of the wall 22 and rearwardly of the forward edges Za and substantially midway between the top and bottom edges of said side walls with an inwardly extending pin 25.

.There is one pin 25 foreach wall 24, and the ,pins 25 are aligned with each other as best shown in Figure 5.

` The'pins 25 are intended to stick into the plastic cleaner and help hold it in the scoop.

A scoop operating bar 23 is secured to the rearwardly projecting part of the bottom 23 of the scoop on top of the handle I d.

At theV rear end of the scoop operating bar 28, it has a split ring 2l, which extends around the handle il! and has at its ends the downturned flanges 21a connected together by a bolt or rivet or the like 28.

The split ring 2l is arranged so that it will slide freely on the handle Iii. o

Spaced forwardly from the ring 2l, the scoop operating bar 25 has spaced upwardly extending ears 29. Spaced forwardly from the ears 29 are similar spaced upwardly extending ears Si) on the scoop operating bar 26.

A rod 3E connects the side walls 2li of the scoop at their upper parts near their rea-r ends as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

At the top of the scoop, we provide a shear plate 32, which extends from the wall 22 rear wardly. The shear plate 32 has at its side edges downwardly extending ears 33 journaled on the rod SI. The front edge of the shear plate 32 is inclined upwardly as indicated at 320, in Figure 6 to cooperate in a shearing manner with the kneading and rolling element hereinafter described.

The plate 32 has a down-turned flange Sli best illustrated perhaps in Figure 8, which overhangs the front face of the scoop wall 22 at the upper edge thereof.

At the rear edge of the shear plate S2, it has an upwardly projecting stop 35 for cooperating with the kneading and rolling element, as will hereafter be explained.

Kneadz'ng and rolling element We provide a kneading and rolling element C consisting of a transverse plate 35 with an upturned flange 3l at its forward edge. The knead-y ing and rolling element slides forwardly and rearwardly above the shear plate 32. The flange 3I Vis curved rearwardly at its ends as indicated at operating bar 2 E and are vpivoted near their lower ends to the ears 3i] hereinbefore described. They project beyond the ears 30 and are intended to cooperate with stop pins 43 projecting laterally from the sides of the handle I4. The links 42 are of resilient material and the pins 43 havey beveled faces and are shortest at their sides nearest the container, so that when the scoop operating bar 2E is slid forwardly, the lower ends of the links 42 willl engage behind the pins 43 as shown inV Figure 7. Then it will be seen that upon further forward movement of the scoop operating oar 2E, the links 42 will be swung on their pivot connection with the ears 30 for forcing the barA 4I and the kneading and rolling element forwardly with a faster motion than that of the scoop. This continues until the links 42 are inclined to position where their lower ends clear the pins 43. On the other hand, on the rearward movement of the links 42, they slide over the beveled faces of the pins 43. Y

The inclined edge 32a of the shear plate 32 is yieldingly pressed against the underside of the plate 36 of the kneading and rolling element by springs is interposed between the bottom member 23 of the scoop and the plate 32, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 for example.

The rear upper parts of the side walls I I of the container are held rigidly spaced by means of a rod 25 extending through them and having the nuts 46 threaded on its outer ends and the spacer sleeve il mounted on it and extending between the walls li.

We preferably attach to the kneader and roller element plate 36, a spring clip 48 (see Figure 6), the function of which will be referred to later herein. Supported on the handle I4 is a cam post d8a for cooperating with the clip 48.

Handle structure We provide a handle structure for reciprocating the scoop and kneader and roller element, comprising a channel bar-shaped member 49, having its forward end pivoted between the ears 29 and its rearward end pivoted to a lever 50. The lever 53 extends through an elongated slot 5I in the handle I4 and is pivoted to the handle by means of a pin or bolt or the like 52. The lever 50 may be provided with a handle 53.

Feeding mechanism Mounted on the under side of the container A is a reservoir compartment 5d, the upper end of which communicates with the lower interior of the container.

In the reservoir 5ft is a plunger 55 swiveled to a threaded bolt 55. The bolt 55 has a threaded connection with the bottom of the reservoir 5t and is provided with a knurled head 5l.

Operation We will now explain the practical operation of our cleaner apparatus.

The plunger 55 in the reservoir 5d is moved to the bottom of the reservoir, and the scoop is moved to its rearward limit of movement. A body of plastic wall paper cleaner 58Y is put into the reservoir and into'the scoop. Experience will show about the amount which should be used for operating under the most favorable conditions.

The plastic cleaner 58 is pushed into the scoop until it is properly held by the pins 25.

The operator then grasps the handle 53 and swings it from its forward position shown by dotted lines in Figure 2 to its rearward position shown in full lines in that figure. This forces the scoop to its forward limit of movement and forces a certain amount of the cleaner material upwardly and outwardly to about the position shown by the dotted lines 59 in Figure 2.

The operator then moves the handle 53 bac again to its dotted line position shown in Figure 2. This pulls the scoop rearwardly. The clip 4S engages over the rear edge of the shear plate 32 through a slot 36a in the plate Se, so as to cause the kneading and rolling element to be drawn rearwardly with the scoop.

At the finish of the rearward stroke of the scoop, the clip d8 rides up on the cam post Mia, so as to be inoperative.

We have experienced some dimculty in pulling the cleaner away from the front wall of the container, on account of the fact that the cleaner sticks to this wall. To make certain that the cleaner will always pull away from the front wall properly, we have hinged the front wall in the manner mentioned. At the beginning of the rearward movement of the scoop, the upper end of the front wall tilts rearwardly slightly. This causes the cleaner to start to peel away from the front wall at the bottom edge thereof and to simply peel off the front wall. At the completion cf the rearward movement of the scoop, the cleaner stands in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. During the rearward stroke of the scoop, the lower ends of the links l2 will have slid over the beveled pins 43. The operator then gives the scoop another forward movement. At the beginning of this forward movement of the scoop, the lower ends of the links i2 engage against the pins 53, then as the scoop is moved forward, the links l2 give an accelerated motion to the kneading and rolling element for thus pushing the upper part of the cleaning inaterial 58 forward and downward. In Figure 7, the parts are shown at an intermediate point of this forward movement of the scoop, and the kneading and rolling element. As the stroke of the kneading and rolling element is completed, the cleaning material is pushed downwardly to the bottom of the container to substantially the position shown in Figure 6. The pins 43 are so located that the kneadng and rolling element reaches the `forward end of its stroke and the links 42 `clear the pins 43 before the scoop reaches its forward limit of movement.

There is thus effected a rolling movement of the cleaning material on the pins 25 so that during the final portion of the forward stroke of the scoop, as it moves from its position shown for instance in Figure 6 to its position shown in Figf ure 2, the cleaning material will be squeezed and a fresh cleaning surface forced upwardly and outwardly to the position shown at 59 in Figure 2.

We have found it very desirable that the upper portion of this cleaning surface should lie in a straight horizontal line. We have found considerable difficulty owing to the fact that this upper surface of the projecting portion of the cleaner ordinarily tends to assume a curved line position from end to end. Yln order to make it come out straight, we have therefore provided the rib 2l, which irnpedes the outer movement of the cleaning material in that portion between the ends of the wall i2.` We have also curved the ends of the fiange 31 rearwardly as shown in Figure 5 to make it easier to force more of the cleaner material out at the sides of the container and at the opposite ends of the wall l2.

By the provision of these parts just mentioned, we can insure the forming of a cleaning surface in a straight line from side to side.

t will be noted that on each forward stroke of the scoop, that portion of the cleaner which served as the cleaning surface during the last preceding cleaning stroke is forced forwardly and downwardly and on the inal part of the forward stroke of the scoop, a fresh portion of the cleaning material is forced upwardly and outwardly, so that there is thus effected the double function of kneading the cleaner and of successively presenting a fresh portion for a cleaning surface.

The operator then wipes down the wall paper to be cleaned with the exposed cleaning surface indicated at 59 in Figure 2. About two strokes is all that ordinarily should be taken. Then while he is moving the apparatus from its position at the lower part of the cleaning stroke to the point where another cleaning stroke will be begun, the operator uses the handle to pull the scoop and the connected parts rearwardly and thus pulls the cleaning material rearwardly completes the forward stroke of the scoop and connected parts for imparting the rolling movement to the cleaner and forcing out a new cleaner surface.

This cycle of operations is continued until the cleaner has taken up so much dirt that it becomes necessary to remove the old cleaner and put new charge intov the apparatus.

During the cleaning operation, a small amount of cleaner crumbles olf. The operator can at any time add to the supply in the container and thus maintain a proper working body of cleaning Inaterial by rotating the screw 5E and forcing the plunger E55 upwardly and thus forcing some of the fresh cleaner from the reservoir 54 into the container. This, of course, must be done when the scope is at the rearward position of its movement.

lt will be understood that during the irst part of the forward stroke of the scoop and of the kneading and rolling element,Y the cam holds that on the rear stroke of the scoop, the kneading and rolling element will be drawn rearwardly Vwith the scoop. The stop plate i9 prevents the pulling of the projecting portion of the cleaner over the upper edge of the wall l2 during the cleaning stroke.

The resilient mounting of the stop plate i9 allows the plate to swing away from the wall being cleaned. This swinging away operation is effected by contact of the cleaning material with the stop plate, and the stop plate does not in fact engage or scrape the wall.

A cleaning apparatus of this kind has a number of important advantages.

Its size may be varied considerably but for instance if it be made to make a four inch cleaning stroke, that is considerably wider than the stroke which can be taken with cleaner held in the bare hand.` Furthermore the stroke taken where the cleaner is held in the hand is limited by the length of the arm, whereas with the apparatus herein described, a much longer stroke can be taken, so that a larger area of the wall can be cleaned with each stroke.

Where the cleaning material is held in the hand and manually kneaded as it is used, it dries out and deteriorates more quickly than is the case with an apparatus of this kind.,

In hand cleaning, moisture must be added to the cleaner from time to time, which we find unnecessary where our apparatus is used.

We also nnd that much less of the cleaning terial cruinbles off at each operation where this cleaning apparatus is employed.

We have also found in practical experience that the dirt from the wall is distributed much more uniformly through the cleaner material by the kneading operation of the apparatus than can be done by hand, and that a given amount of cleaner` is usable for a longer time when used with such an apparatus.

It is therefore obvious that where our apparatus is employed, the workman can clean a larger area of wall in a given time and that there is effected a substantial saving of cleaning material.

We also find that the even kneading and rolling of the cleaning material by the apparatus causes it to leave fewer streaks than where cleaner is used by hand only.

We have also found by actual experience that a given wall area can be cleaned by the use of this apparatus with much less fatigue on the part of the workman than results when cleaning is done entirely by hand.

It is obvious that the handle may be made as long as desired or that an extension may be put on it, and we have succeeded in cleaning ceilings of rooms without difficulty from the floor. This can not be done by hand operation, which requires the use of step ladders or some other equipment on which the operator can stand.

This apparatus therefore effects a very substantial saving in time, a considerable economy in the amount of cleaner used, and involves much less work and fatigue on the part oi the operator than does cleaning by hand only.

It is obvious that many changes might be made in the construction and arrangement of parts of our improved cleaning apparatus.

For instance, the handle and lever arrangement here shown and indeed many of the other parts are shown simply by way of illustration and other arrangements could be employed.

The reservoir may be dispensed with if desired.

Any suitable material adaptable for the purpose may be used. A

The width of the container may be varied Within considerable limits.

It is therefore our purpose to cover by our claims any such modications in the use of materials or in the construction and arrangement of parts as may be included within the scope of our claims and our invention.

We claim:

1, In a wall cleaning apparatus, a container having a bottom, side walls and a front wall and adapted to hold plastic cleaner, mechanismV associated with the container for sequentially drawing the cleaner away from the front wall and for then giving it rolling motion toward the front wall.

2. In a wall cleaning apparatus, a container having a bottom, side walls and a front wall and adapted to hold plastic cleaner, mechanism associated with the container for sequentially drawing the cleaner away from the front wall and for giving it rolling motion toward the front wall the container and mechanism being arranged to cooperate for forcing part of the cleaner outwardly beyond the front end and side walls at the end of the rolling action.

3. In a wall cleaning apparatus, a container having a bottom, side walls and a front wall and adapted to hold plastic cleaner, mechanism associated with the container for sequentially drawing the cleaner away from the front wall, and giving it rolling motion toward the front wall, the container and mechanism being arranged to cooperate for forcing part of it outwardly beyond the front end and sidewalls at the end of the rolling action, said front wall being pivoted on a transverse axis at one edge and having its opposite edge capable of limited swinging movement, whereby said wall limits the movement of the cleaner in one direction and may swing with it for a limited distance in the other direction.

4. In a wall cleaning apparatus, a container having a bottom, side walls Vand a front wall and adapted to hold plastic cleaner, means forsequentially drawing the cleaner away from the front wall, giving it rolling motion toward the front wall and forcing part of it outwardly beyond the front end and side walls, said front Wall having a rib across its inner surface, terminating short oi the side walls for restricting the outward movement of the cleaner.

5. In a wall cleaning apparatus, a container having a bottom, side walls and a front wall and adapted to hold plastic cleaner, means for sequentially drawing the cleaner away from the front wall, giving it rolling motion toward the front wall and forcing part of it outwardly beyond the front end and side walls, said front wall having a rib across its inner surface, terminating short of the side walls for restricting the outward movement of the cleaner, and being pivoted on a transverse axis at one edge land being mounted for limiting swinging movement of its opposite edge.

6. In a wall cleaning apparatus, a container having a bottom, side walls and a front wall and adapted to hold plastic cleaner, means for drawing the cleaner away from the front wall and for giving it rolling motion toward the front wall, and a stop plate outside the upper edge of the iront wall, projecting above its upper edge and yieldably supported on the container for up and down movement.

7. In a wall cleaning-apparatus, a container having a bottom, side walls and a iront wall and adapted to hold plastic cleaner, means for sequentially drawing the cleaner away from the iront wall and giving it rolling motion toward the front wall, comprising a cleaner holding scoop having open iront and top sides slidable in the container toward and from the front wall, and a kneading and rolling element above the scoop and slidable with the scoop, and means for giving said element an accelerated motion during the movement or the scoop toward the front wall, for engaging and pushing forward the upper portion of the cleaner carried by the scoop.

8. In a wall cleaning apparatus, a container having a bottom, side walls and a front wall and adapted to hold plastic cleaner, means for sequentially drawing the cleaner away from the front wall and giving it rolling motion toward the front wall, comprising a scoop having open front and top sides slidable in the container toward and from the front wall,and a kneading and rolling element above the scoop and slidable with the scoop, and means for giving said element an accelerated motion during the movement of the scoop toward the front wall for enga-ging and rolling forwardly the upper portion of the cleaner carried by the scoop, said scoop having pins projecting inwardly from its sides, for holding the cleaner.

9. In a wall cleaning apparatus, a container having a bottom, side walls and a front wall and Vadapted to hold plastic cleaner, means for sequentially drawing the cleaner away from the front wall and giving it rolling motion toward the iront wall, comprising a scoop having open front and top sides slidaole in the container toward and from the iront wall, and a irneading and rolling element above the scoop and slidable with and above the scoop, means for giving said element an accelerated iorward motion during the movement of the scoop toward the viront wall, for engaging and pushing forward the upper portion of the cleaner carried by the scoop, said scoop having pins projecting inwardly from its sides, for holding the cleaner, and a shear plate above the scoop, and below the element, pivoted to the scoop at its rear part to slide with the scoop, and arranged to be slidably engaged at its forward edge by said element to shear the cleaner from the element on the retractive movement thereof.

10. In a wall cleaning apparatus, a container having a bottom, side walls and a front wall and adapted to hold plastic cleaner, means for sequentially drawing the cleaner away from the front wall and for giving it rolling motion toward the front wall, comprising a scoop having open front and top sides slidable in the container toward and from the front wall, and a kneading and rolling element above the scoop and slidable with and above the scoop, means for giving said element an accelerated forward motion during the movement of the scoop toward the iront wall, for engaging and pushing forward the upper portion of the cleaner carried by the scoop, said scoop having pins projecting inwardly from its sides, for holding the cleaner, a shear plate above the scoop and below the element, pivoted to the scoop at its rear part having a forward edge adapted to shear the cleaner from the element on the retractive movement of such element, and having a lange overhanging the rear upper part of the scoop in close engagement therewith.

li. In a wall cleaning apparatus, a container having a bottom, side walls and a front wall and adapted to hold plastic cleaner, means for sequentially drawing the cleaner away from the front wall and for giving it rolling motion toward the iront wall, comprising a scoop having open front and top sides slidable in the container toward and from the front wall, and a kneading and rolling element above the scoop and slidable with and above the scoop, means for giving said element an accelerated forward motion during the movement oi the scoop toward the front wall for engaging and pushing forward the upper portion of the cleaner carried by the scoop, said scoop having pins projecting inwardly from its sides, for holding the cleaner, and a yieldingly mounted shear plate on the scoop for engaging the under side of the element for shearing the cleaner from it during its retractive movement.

12. In a wall cleaning apparatus, a container open at its top for holding plastic cleaner and having a front wall and side walls, means associated with the container for successively withdrawing the cleaner from the front wall, rolling the cleaner and forcing it against the front wall for causing part of the cleaner to protrude above the walls.

13. In a wall cleaner apparatus, a container for holding piastic cleaner having a front and side walls open at its top adjacent the front wall, means carried by the container for sequentially withdrawing the cleaner from the front wall and giving it rolling motion toward the front wall for successively causing a different cleaning surface to protrude above the iront wall for cleaning operations, and reservoir means associated with the container for supplying fresh cleaner to the container.

CASPER KENNE. ANTHONY KENNE. 

